QuoteReplyTopic: A question about the a99 & vg900 ??? Posted: 08 November 2012 at 04:00

Maybe this is a stupid question... But since the vg900 sony video camera has the same sensor and shoots the same MP pictures and raw files as the a99, Would the Photo be the same quality, worse, or better than that of the a99's ?Does it have the same "translucent mirror" setup ?

The reason I am asking is because I am happy with the results I am getting from my a77 and a580 cameras so Im going to wait for the next full frame alpha camera but I am needed to upgrade my 4 year old Sony video camera and I am leaning towards he vg900...

Any insight is appreciated especially if you have a opportunity to use the VG900 already....

The samples I've seen from the a99 fly in the face of typical claims about SLT mirror degrading quality. The shots actually look sharper than those I've seen from non SLT cameras. So I'm not convinced you'd notice any difference between a99 and vg900 images. The only possible way to improve from what a99 is producing, is to use the LAEA-1 adapter (without SLT mirror), and one of the fine ZA's. But even if there were a slight improvement, I highly doubt it would translate to anything a print could show.

But what are we... Scientists or Artists? At that level... could the difference between the two really matter? I'd bet a plucked chicken that not one curator from any museum in the world could tell the difference... much less reject one set of images over the other.

[QUOTE=Photosopher] The samples I've seen from the a99 fly in the face of typical claims about SLT mirror degrading quality. The shots actually look sharper than those I've seen from non SLT cameras. So I'm not convinced you'd notice any difference between a99 and vg900 images. The only possible way to improve from what a99 is producing, is to use the LAEA-1 adapter (without SLT mirror), and one of the fine ZA's. But even if there were a slight improvement, I highly doubt it would translate to anything a print could show.

Im not necessarily trying to stay away from the translucent mirror technology to get "better" results than the a99... I am just in need of "Video Camera" and was wondering what "difference" there would be between the photo quality of the 2 cameras and I am sure I would use the vg900 to take stills quite a bit while shooting videos if you can get image quality simular to that of the a99....just trying to figure that out....

A99 will AF with A-mount lenses, the VG900 probably will not. Under ideal conditions the VG900 might give you marginally better IQ, but in a dynamic situation, you are better off with a camera that autofocuses, otherwise you may miss the shot while trying to manually focus.

A99 will AF with A-mount lenses, the VG900 probably will not. Under ideal conditions the VG900 might give you marginally better IQ, but in a dynamic situation, you are better off with a camera that autofocuses, otherwise you may miss the shot while trying to manually focus.

Glad you brought that up... With the new to alpha adaptor that comes with the vg900, there is no autofocus with alpha lenses but others are supposed to make one that does auto focus... They already have one that works with canon lenses on the vg900..I was planning on picking up a nex6r so I dont mind that AF is only with the nex lenses right now...

MrLee - as far as I'm aware this adaptor for EOS works only with APS-C lenses, so it's useless with VG900.As far as LA-EA3 goes - doesn't it allow autofocus with SSM and SAM lenses? I thought it was exactly as with LA-EA1.

The LA-EA3 allows AF with SSM/SAM lenses. The VG900 is also compatible with the LA-EA2, which allows AF with all A-mount lenses (but, of course, will also engage APS-C cropping).

The biggest disadvantage, IMHO, of using A-mount lenses on the VG900 is that you have no image stabilization. So there's still a need for full-frame E-mount lenses (which then will have in-lens stabilization).

A99 will AF with A-mount lenses, the VG900 probably will not. Under ideal conditions the VG900 might give you marginally better IQ, but in a dynamic situation, you are better off with a camera that autofocuses, otherwise you may miss the shot while trying to manually focus.

I have read the VG900 manual. Yes, it will AF with A-Mount lenses, but it's contrast detect only as the LA-EA3 adapter is like a full frame version of the LA-EA1.

Basically IMO it boils down to this - the VG900 will record longer, has a more traditional camcorder body, probably better onboard audio, and a few other video-centric buttons on it. The downside is the size, no image stabilization, and you CANNOT even adjust the contrast/sharpness/saturation. Also it's native E-mount, so any E-mount lenses will be in APS-C cropped mode (1.5x crop).

With my a99 I get the ability to fine tune the image, stabilization, no APS-C crop, phase detect AF in video mode. Plus a much smaller size and more options for flashes (I assume).

I have read the VG900 manual. Yes, it will AF with A-Mount lenses, but it's contrast detect only as the LA-EA3 adapter is like a full frame version of the LA-EA1.

Basically IMO it boils down to this - the VG900 will record longer, has a more traditional camcorder body, probably better onboard audio, and a few other video-centric buttons on it. The downside is the size, no image stabilization, and you CANNOT even adjust the contrast/sharpness/saturation. Also it's native E-mount, so any E-mount lenses will be in APS-C cropped mode (1.5x crop).

With my a99 I get the ability to fine tune the image, stabilization, no APS-C crop, phase detect AF in video mode. Plus a much smaller size and more options for flashes (I assume).[/QUOTE]

Great breakdown... Thanks for the info...I wish it was native A mount... That is the part that has me sitting on the fence... It really makes no sense to have it native Nex (Except to get more peoples buying/using NeX)..They should have made it A mount since it has the same full frame sensor as the a99, and let it have the other differences that you mention... That would make sense.

Great breakdown... Thanks for the info...I wish it was native A mount... That is the part that has me sitting on the fence... It really makes no sense to have it native Nex (Except to get more peoples buying/using NeX)..They should have made it A mount since it has the same full frame sensor as the a99, and let it have the other differences that you mention... That would make sense.

It would, but seems like Sony reserved camcoders for E-mount.(And to be honest - this only make the whole point of A99 - the video-focused DSLR - even more doubtful, when Sony already have a whole FS and VG lines performing much better then any mirrorless/DSLR solution for a video)

sybersitizen wrote:

... unless you consider it sensible for the body to support both NEX and A-mount lenses, plus a billion other legacy lenses that wouldn't work with an A-mount.

I guess that's the whole point we are discussing here: That the E-mount does not give you true, full support for Full Frame A-mount lenses. (And anything else works only through prosthesis)

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